Wilhite Perfect at the Plate as Titans Complete Sweep of Aztecs

Fullerton, Calif. -
Graduating senior Jon Wilhite went 4-for-4 with five RBI on Senior Night and led No. 8 Cal State Fullerton to an 8-5 non-conference win over San Diego State Saturday night at Goodwin Field.

The Titans won their fourth game in a row and swept the Aztecs notching their fourth series sweep of the year heading into the final week of the regular season. The Titans improved their overall record to 35-17. San Diego, drops to 30-26, and head to Fort Worth, Texas, to begin the Mountain West Conference Tournament beginning on Tuesday.

Wilhite, who's career-best was a 3-for-3 night back in 2005, came up with runners in scoring position in each of his first three at-bats, and delivered singles each time. His first two were off losing pitcher Jon Berger (2-7) as the Titans jumped out to a 5-0 lead. His last hit in the second, ended Berger's night. He added his fourth single in the sixth inning.

Wilhite, getting just his seventh start of the year, came up for the third time with Christian Colon and Erik Komatsu on base with singles of their own. He delivered again with a floating line drive into left center driving in his fourth and fifth RBI.

Almost hidden behind Wilhite's performance, Cory Arbiso won his 11th straight decision to improve to 11-2. The right-hander hurled 7.0 quiet innings, allowing just two runs on six hits striking out two.

San Diego State plated back-to-back runs in the third and fourth inning before giving the ball up to senior Nolan Bruyninckx. Brandon Decker plated the Aztecs first run of the night with an RBI-groundout after Pat Colwell sac-bunted Cameron Johnson and Mike Willeford into scoring position after both singled without the ball leaving the infield.

A leadoff walk to Nick Romero to lead off the fourth cost Arbiso his second run of the night, as Erik Castro doubled to center to cut the Titan lead to 6-2.

Bruyninckx, who hasn't pitched since 2007, came in for his first appearance of the year and worked out of a first and second, one out jam to conclude his scoreless inning.

Senior Adam Jorgenson came in for the ninth after replacing Bruyninckx (who left to a standing ovation), and surrendered three runs on two walks and three singles before getting the final out of the sweep of the Aztecs. Tony Hanzawa drove in two and Romero drove in the last with his third single of the night.

Senior Joel Weeks also got in on the action Saturday night, going 2-for-4 with two RBI as he and Wilhite accounted for seven of the eight Titan RBIs. Joe Scott added the other with a perfectly executed squeeze bunt in the third inning.

The Titans scored all eight runs in the first four innings of the game, off Berger (five runs, four earned) and Craig Rasmussen (three runs, two earned). George Snyder and Chase Thomas combined for two scoreless innings.

Fullerton will finish up their 2008 home schedule on Tuesday, May 20, at 6 p.m. as they host UCLA in their final non-conference game of the season. Kevin Rath (1-0, 6.14 ERA) will be on the mound for Fullerton. The Titans will conclude Big West Conference play Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Blair Field against cross-town rival Long Beach State.